The Academy

Chapter Eleven

Rose:

I left Peter and Tink to celebrate their having a kid moment and it hits me, when did they do it?! The thought sends a shiver down my spine and I glare at Jace, “Now that we know we weren’t in Neverland, no funny business.” He pouted, “Aw...but where’s the fun in that?” “The fun is me not having a kid at the age of sixteen. Excuse my but I’d rather not be on ‘Sixteen and Pregnant’!” Jace laughs and held my hand, “Alright, now I heard that yesterday there was a snowball fight that you were in. And let me just say, I’d really like to have one.” “Later, the sun’s not even up. Maybe we could have it with Peter, Tink and Na-” I caught myself and bit my lip then continued, “With Peter and Tink…” Jace gave my hand a quick squeeze and I sighed.

This wasn’t going to be easy…

It did make me feel better that if Tink had a boy she’d name him after Nathan, it was sweet.

The next morning When everyone was up I realized I was up before Jace. This was a rare occasion, so I just sat there looking at him (trying not to look like a stalker.) He was quite peaceful when he was asleep, not making any sarcastic comments, but I guess those sarcastic comments were some of the things that I grew to love…

He opened his blue eyes, “Morning Rose.” he muttered sleepily and I smiled, “Morning Jace.” He got up and looked at me, “So do you want to see my plans for the funeral later?” I nodded. Great couple bonding time right?

In the kitchen we found Tink and Peter kissing, I coughed, “Excuse me.” that got their attention, Tink turned bright red and Peter looked away. “Oh-um...thought you two were asleep.” “Sorry to interrupt.” Jace said with a wink and I punched his arm. Tink walked over to the fridge, “Anyone else craving waffles?” “Nope, but now that you mention it I’m a little hungry.” I said and I couldn’t get the question out of my head.When did they do it?! 

Almost as if reading my mind, Jace crossed his arms, “Peter, if it’s not too much to ask, when did you two get to it if you know what I mean?” I frowned at him, “That’s not just something you ask! Even if it was on my mind too, at least I didn’t ask that!” Tink laughed, “I’ll tell you later. Don’t worry.”

Logan came in and yawned, “Ugh I’m exhausted from last night.” I suppressed the urge to ask what he did last night. Though I had a feeling I already knew. “Somebody making waffles?” he asked and I pointed to Tink. He nodded and glared at Peter, “No more funny business for you Mr. Pan.” Peter held up his hands defensively, “Okay, okay.”

“So when’s the wedding?” I asked and Tink shrugged, “I want it to be sooner rather than later.” Peter agreed with her, and Jace rubbed his hands together, “Fantastic, can I help with the preparations?” Tink shrugged, “I don’t see why not.” Logan grunted and crossed his arms approvingly but he kept his mouth shut.

After breakfast Tink and Peter wanted to go to the library so I left them in peace, and I tapped Logan on the shoulder, “Logan?” I asked and he turned around. “Yes my awesome daughter, who’s totally not going to get pregnant anytime soon?” 

“Are you fine with Tink and Peter, you know, everything like that?” I asked him and his expression turned sour, “Not really, she just turned eighteen and now she’s going to have a kid.” “I see your point but there’s nothing you can do about it, just try.”

With that I walked off.

As I was walking back to my room I realized something, I knew who my father was, I knew a lot of stuff about my past, but who was my mother was still a mystery to me. For some reason I really wanted to know, even though she dropped me off at an orphanage, maybe she was having financial problems, or maybe she just wasn’t ready to have a kid...anyway I felt the need to know.

Jace was sitting in my room with what looked like a canvas, a willow was drawn with lights strung around it and it was by the river.

“Is that the plans for the funeral?” I asked quietly, and he looked up. “Yes, does it look alright?” I nodded and sat down beside him, and I sighed, “I always kind of wanted him to be planning my funeral and not the other way around. Heck I didn’t even think I’d make it this far...he should’ve.” I whispered holding back tears.

The plans were amazing and I feel like if he were here he’d approve of them. “Can you get it started, I’ll be there tonight, you know, say a couple words…” I asked he and he nodded.

That night, snow had started to fall again, the river rushed by and the lights glowed golden in the darkness. They were like Christmas lights, the old fashioned kind and they lit up the drooping willow tree where a small granite grave sat. You could see some words carved into the stone:

                                      Nathan Harris
May his quick wit and loving soul forever live on

I looked at the stone and to Jace who was standing beside me and I sighed.

“Hey Nathan...I hope wherever you are, you can hear me because I’m not going to pour out my heart for nothing, alright? Well, what can I say? When everyone else treated me like just some kid, like nothing, you didn’t. You saw past the dirt and the muck and you saw me. Without you I probably would’ve died on those streets a long time ago. And you probably still would’ve been here. I’m sorry things turned out the way they did, you shouldn’t have been the one to pay. You’d gone through so much, I couldn’t imagine losing a mother, but I imagine it’s a bit like losing your best friend. If you can I wish you told me your secret to moving on, because right now I’m not sure what I should do…” Now I was crying, I had to fight to stand up because my knees felt weak.  “I honestly wish it would’ve been me, because you didn’t deserve this. You deserved to grow old, have a family, watch them grow up. What I wouldn’t give to have one more day. I’d cherish it, and I know. It sounds cheesy, it sounds cliche...but you really don’t know what you have until it’s gone.”

Now I was sobbing. I fell to the ground and put my face in my hands.

Suddenly the grave started to glow and a the light transformed into a figure. Nathan.

“Hi Rose.” he said with a small smile, a sad smile. I looked at his ghost and he sighed, “Please, don’t cry Rose, I’m glad that it was me, if it had’ve happened to you I don’t know what I would’ve done.” “You would’ve moved on, I can’t.” I said, tears streaking down my face and his ghost walked over to me and knelt down to where I was in the snow. “You see, that’s where you’re wrong. You’re strong, stronger than I’ve ever been.” Right now I felt anything but strong. He reached out to wipe a tear but all I felt was a small cold breeze. “Don’t cry Rose, we’ll see eachother again. Trust me, and by the way. My mom told me to say hello for her.” With that he stood up and took a deep breath. “I can’t stay any longer. Just please Rose, don’t become a shell, I believe you can pick yourself up and keep going with life.” Then he pointed to Jace, “Remember what I said. I will come and beat your butt with my ghostly ass if it comes to that.” With that his ghost disappeared but not before whispering, “Goodbye.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore, sobs racked my body and I yelled, “That's it?! You’re just leaving?!” Jace knelt down and embraced me, and let me cry into his shoulder.

Eventually, we went back inside, only because I was too numb to move.